Picture book reviews by librarians for everyone.

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

A cute little fish has a bright blue bowler hat. It’s adorable and fits the fish perfectly; however, the fish stole the hat from an even bigger fish that is determined to get its hat back. The hat theft and its aftermath form the basis for author and illustrator Jon Klassen’s Caldecott Medal-winning This Is Not My Hat.
Like Klassen’s 2011 book I Want My Hat Back, the story is simple and told with a minimal number of words. The illustrations move the story forward and give it subtlety and depth. Klassen keeps the color palette consistent throughout the book. The fish, proudly wearing its stolen hat, is swimming in a sea of blacks, browns, and blues. Although the smaller fish is the only character that speaks in the book, Klassen skillfully develops the personality of the larger fish through a variety of facial expressions. Words are not necessary to understand the larger fish and its mission.
Children who enjoyed the clever humor of Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back will enjoy This Is Not My Hat